Court orders freezing 191 bank accounts of Summit Group

A Dhaka court today (9 March) ordered authorities concerned to freeze 191 bank accounts of the Summit Group in response to an application filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). 

However, in a statement, Summit's Head of Public Relations Mohsena Hassan has refuted any closure or freezing of company accounts.

The bank accounts have a total of around Tk41.74 crore.

The Metropolitan Senior Special Judge of Dhaka granted the ACC's application and ordered the freezing of these bank accounts. 

ACC Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam informed the media about the court's order.

The anti-graft agency's Deputy Director Md Alamgir Hossain filed the application, which said various allegations against the Summit Group and their related institutions were uncovered during investigations. 

These included allegations of illegal acquisition of wealth through bribery and corruption and laundering of crores of taka abroad.

The ACC also obtained information about savings, FDR and other accounts. 

It said the amount of money in the accounts was unusual and suspicious. 

During the investigation, it was found that there is a possibility of withdrawing the said amount at any time and smuggling it abroad.

Summit's statement

Summit's Head of Public Relations Mohsena Hassan has refuted any closure or freezing of company accounts, stating that Summit's power generation, LNG terminal operations and all other businesses, payments from their customers as well as bank accounts are functioning as usual. 

"However, the Khan family's personal accounts have been frozen for about five months and remain frozen without any charge. The media reports about company accounts are false and misleading."